“Southern Charm” alum Kathryn Dennis’ recent DUI sentencing is shedding light on a costly mistake many drivers still make, and that’s refusing a breathalyzer test. In early October, Kathryn Dennis was sentenced to 30 days in jail following a May crash in Berkeley County that left another driver injured. But one detail buried in the police report is now making headlines: the reality star denied a breathalyzer test at the detention center after her arrest. That decision, experts say, was a turning point, not a loophole.

The arrest stemmed from a May 20, 2024, traffic stop in Goose Creek, South Carolina, when officers with the Goose Creek Police Department (GCPD) pulled Dennis over just after 10 p.m. local time. A police report described Kathryn Dennis as “possibly impaired” at the scene.

Officers noted that Kathryn Dennis had “glossy eyes” and a “strong odor of alcohol” coming from her person before taking her into custody on DUI charges. The reality star was later transported to the detention center, where she declined to take a breathalyzer test, a decision that would later become one of the defining factors in her case.

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Refusing a chemical test might sound like a smart way to avoid incriminating evidence, but legally, it’s the opposite. Every licensed driver in the U.S. operates under “implied consent,” meaning you’ve already agreed to chemical testing if police suspect you’re driving under the influence.

Declining the test violates that agreement, triggering immediate administrative penalties, even if you’re never convicted of DUI. Officers can confiscate your license on the spot and issue a temporary one while the DMV processes an automatic suspension, which can last up to a year or longer for a first offense.

Veteran DUI attorney Jack T. Randall explains that the refusal often backfires. “When a driver refuses a test, they think they’re protecting themselves,” Randall told The Blast. “But what actually happens is they lose their driving privileges on the spot and give prosecutors another piece of evidence to use in court. It’s a double penalty that most people don’t see coming.”

Refusal penalties vary by state, but they’re severe across the board. A first-time refusal can result in a 12-month license suspension, while repeat offenders may face misdemeanor charges, jail time, and a permanent record.

Even worse, prosecutors can argue that refusing the test shows “consciousness of guilt,” suggesting the driver declined because they believed they would fail. That’s why Randall calls the tactic one of the “biggest misconceptions” in DUI defense. The refusal creates guaranteed consequences, whereas the outcome of a DUI case itself depends on evidence, testimony, and negotiation.

Kathryn Dennis’s legal troubles don’t end with her 30-day sentence. The former Bravo personality is also facing a civil lawsuit connected to the Berkeley County crash, keeping her name (and her case) in the public eye.

Her situation underscores a sobering reality. A DUI arrest doesn’t just end in court. It can ripple through a driver’s finances, reputation, and career for years to come.

For anyone pulled over on suspicion of DUI, experts agree on one thing. The safest way to avoid both criminal and administrative penalties is simple: Don’t drive after drinking.

As Randall put it, “The penalties for refusal are guaranteed. The outcome of a DUI trial is not.”